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Lauren Wood is an AFL and AFL Women’s reporter for the Herald Sun and CODE Sports. She also covers a range of other sports across the busy Melbourne sporting calendar.

@LaurenHeraldSun

Lauren Wood

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AFLW

AFLW round-up: Key recruit’s setback, Crow inks new deal

One of the prized recruits of the AFLW off-season is racing the clock to be fit for round 1. Meanwhile, the league has locked in the date for its historic national draft.

AFLW

Harris in Paris: Dees react to star’s trip just weeks out from Rd 1

Melbourne play their season opening AFLW match later this month, but Tayla Harris isn’t in the country. LAUREN WOOD asks the Dees what’s up with the star’s Olympic expedition.

AFL

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Dockers players look dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL Round 18 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Fremantle Dockers at the UTAS Stadium on July 13, 2024 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

‘Basins for urination’: Freo’s flight horrors laid bare

With no direct flight option from Launceston to Perth, the Dockers took the chartered flight path after their loss to the Hawks, unaware of the horrors they would endure heading home.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Number 4 pick Brooke Barwick is presented her jumper by Ellie Blackburn of the Bulldogs during the 2023 AFLW Draft at Marvel Stadium on December 18, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFLW’s landmark move to shake up draft process

AFLW players will enter an open draft in a landmark move for the football’s elite women’s competition, leaving the country’s best young players open to head anywhere in Australia.

AFL

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JUNE 02: Paddy Ryder of the Power and Callum Wilkie of the Saints during the 2019 AFL round 11 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium on June 02, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

AFL’s stance on China revealed amid Port, government interest

The federal government is reportedly interested in bringing Aussie rules back to China, a move Port Adelaide is ‘watching closely’. Now the AFL have had their say.

AFLW

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 30: Ellie McKenzie of the Tigers and Madison Prespakis of the Bombers pose for a photo during a photoshoot to announce that an AFLW match will be played for the first time in Darwin in the 2024 season at Pipemakers Park on May 30, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFLW Fixture: Huge double-header to kick off new-look season

The full AFLW fixture for 2024 has landed – and there is plenty to unpack. Daisy Pearce’s debut, a Dreamtime clash, a footy frenzy and a Showdown under lights. See every game here.

AFL

MELBOURNE, APRIL 19, 2024: Richmond AFLW player Rebecca Miller. Bec is pictured in from the of the Jack Dyer Stand at Punt Road Oval. Picture: Mark Stewart

Clubs ‘pressured’ by compressed fixture as footy returns to Punt Rd

The AFLW fixture is set to be released this week, with clubs expected to play 11 games across 10 weeks. As LAUREN WOOD reports, clubs are concerned it will make it impossible to hit metrics the AFL has put in place to measure growth.

AFL

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 5: Alastair Clarkson, Senior Coach of the Kangaroos during the round four AFL match between Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Norwood Oval, on April 5, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Clarko, Roos leaders to start Pride in Sport training this month

Alastair Clarkson will finally undergo his Pride in Sport education program after he was found to use homophobic language in a pre-season game. But he’s not the only North leader completing the training.

AFL

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 14: Montana Ham of the Swans kicks during the round seven AFLW match between Sydney Swans and Hawthorn Hawks at Henson Park, on October 14, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

National shift on the cards for AFLW draft

AFLW players might be forced into following Montana Ham’s lead in moving interstate, with a switch to a national draft on the cards for the league as early as this year.

AFL

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Griffin Logue and Aidan Corr of the Kangaroos walk from the ground after during the round 17 AFL match between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium, on July 09, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The worrying holes North need to fill to improve in 2024

North Melbourne have stockpiled an impressive array of forward and midfield talent through draft and trading but there is an area of the ground where they seem even weaker than in 2023.

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